During the vegetative stage, which is the first stage of cannabis growth, you get the kind of growth that you would expect. In many ways, weed grows, well, like a weed!

However, when you get to the flowering stage, many different factors come into play. Your plants often become more sensitive to externalities during this stage as well. One of the tricky things about the flowering stage is that there isn’t a whole lot of room for error.

Making the most out of the flowering stage means understanding the various cycles within the stage.

The Cycle Within the Cycle

The Transition Period – Week 1-3

During indoor cannabis growth, the transition cycle is the first portion of the flowering stage. During this time, you will want to create a 12/12 light cycle, giving your plants 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness each day.

During this time, your cannabis plant will think that winter is coming, as the days will seem shorter. You can expect your female plants to sprout white pistils during the transition period, though they won’t start growing buds until the next stage.

Budlet Formation – Week 3-4

By week 3-4, the mad stretching of your plants will slow down, though they will continue growing upward. It is during this time you will begin seeing buds pop up, rather than just hairs. You will need to keep a close eye on your garden during budlet formation, as your plants will become a bit pickier regarding nutrients and environmental factors.

Be aware of yellowing leaves or leaf loss. However, it is normal for a plant to lose a few leaves during this stage, especially if they aren’t getting enough light. If your plant is yellowing or losing leaves rapidly, it could be a light deficiency problem. During the 3-4 week period, your plants should be lush and green.

The Fattening – Week 4-6

During this stage, expect your buds to gain some substance. At this point, the stretch is nearly over. You won’t have to pay as much attention to your plant. However, if you notice your plant sagging because the buds are too heavy, you might consider trying to find ways to hold them up.

The Ripening – Week 6-8

At this point, your plant will stop making new stems and leaves. All of its energy will go to growing buds for you to harvest. You may see the leaves yellowing at this point, as the nutrients are going to the buds. However, your plant should still be mostly green from bottom to top during this stage.

After this stage, it is time to harvest the plant you’ve invested so much of your time into!

Having a healthy flowering stage starts with having quality marijuana clones. Make sure to get in touch with us here at Big Daddy Clones if you have any other questions regarding soil or clone purchases!